Telematics technology provider In-Car Cleverness monitored the hire of more than 10,000 rental vehicles over a six-month period and found that female customers exceed the speed limit 17.5% more often than men.

However, they returned far fewer cars to the rental company with damage than men. In-Car Cleverness found that 84% of the cars returned with dents, scratches and punctures had been rented by male drivers.

It also recorded a rather more expected link between damage to rental cars and the number of speeding incidents recorded in those vehicles. Overall, the average number of speeding incidents was 57 for men and 67 for women. Female drivers who damaged cars sped more often – averaging 90 speeding cases. Men who returned vehicles with damage exceeded the speed limit 82 times on average.

Paul O’Dowd of In-Car Cleverness, said: ‘While the number of cars damaged by the opposite sexes varies, the behaviours which result in damage are consistently similar. The statistics show a clear correlation between vehicle damage and instances of speeding, harsh braking and acceleration.’